Poly(8-bromoadenylic acid): synthesis and characterization of an all-syn polynucleotide.

Poly(8-bromoadenylic acid) (poly(8-BrA)) has been synthesized by polymerization of 8-BrADP with polynucleotide phosphorylase in the presence of oligonucleotide primers. In the absence of oligonucleotides, significant (i.e. more than 1%) polymerization does not occur. Oligo(I) primer was removed selectively from the polymer with ribonuclease T1 to yield the homopolymer, poly(8-BrA). End group analysis, based on quantitative infrared measurement of the (Ip)3I-primed polymer, indicates an average degree of polymerization of about 70 residues. The primed polymers and the homopolymer appear to have similar helical structures, probably double-stranded with mutual hydrogen bonding interaction of BrA residues. Preliminary NMR observations of poly(8-BrA) with a tetrainosinic acid primer at the 5' ends of the polymer chain ((Ip)3I-(8-BrA)n) are consistent with the existence of a rigid helical structure below the melting range of the primed polymer. Above the melting range (81 degrees) the H1' coupling constants of (Ip)3I-(8-BrA)n and of polyadenylic acid (poly(A)) suggest a significantly higher population of C3' endo conformation of ribose residues in the primed polymer than in poly(A) at 81 degrees.